Workers' Protests in Contemporary Vietnam (with Some Comparisons to those in the Pre-1975 South)

During 1995-2008, workers in Vietnam instigated over 2,600 strikes, two-thirds of which occurred in the last four years. This article investigates what workers are demanding, what happens during strikes, their degree of organization, and the reactions of employers and state authorities to these protests. It also compares these workers' protests to labor unrest in the Republic of Vietnam. The analysis shows some similarities between the two periods in what workers have sought and the consequences of their protests. The contrasts, however, are more remarkable and help to highlight the significance of today's labor unrest for the current political system.